Friday, July 26, 2013

Image source: parksmania.it

When you
are planning your Tuscan getaway Livorno may not be at the top of your list of
places to stay or visit but hopefully after reading this you will realise that
it is not something to be missed. It may not have the attractive and infamous
name like other cities such as Florence and Siena but there is enough going on
in this city that lies on the Tyrrhenian Sea to suit the kind of holiday you
are looking to have. The beautiful seafront is perfect for relaxing on your
romantic break but there is plenty to do if you are planning on being more
active.

Livorno has
experienced a lot of expansion over the years and was once regarded as the most
important and busiest port in Italy. Although it doesn’t quite hit the
economical heights that it used to these days, its beauty and history is still
there for all to see. Due to the fact that it les in the middle of the Tuscan
coastline, it is a great place to base yourself in one of the many Tuscan Villas and explore the surrounding area. But before you
do that here are a few things to enjoy in Livorno.

Santuario di
Montenero –

This
sanctuary that was built as a shrine to Our Lady of Grace has been transformed
over the years from a small oratory to the beautifully breath-taking basilica
that it is today. Although it is situated in the town of Montenero which is
just outside of Livorno; it will offer amazing views of the city and is
certainly something that you won’t want to go home without doing.

Enjoy the
views from the cable car that takes you up to the sanctuary, which incidentally
is included in the bus fair to Montenero, and listen in amazement at the
stories that accompany the beautiful works of art. The sanctuary is open daily
from 7am-7pm with a 2 hour break at 12.30pm but can get very busy on a Sunday.

Acquario di Livorno
–

Although
not as culturally important; this aquarium is sure to be just as educational
and definitely something the children will enjoy. Whilst visiting this
attraction you will meet Cuba the green turtle, black tipped sharks and over
1,700 other different marine animals. There is a touch pool where you can
really interact with some of the underwater creatures and the walls are jam
packed with educational information.

This
aquarium doesn’t just focus on all things aquatic though as you will learn
about the cultural significance of the building and other parts of Livorno as
you travel round. The aquarium is open all year round and is free for children
under a metre in height.

Terrazza Mascagni –

This fresh
air, seaside walk is perfect for any couple on a romantic getaway or for any
family who prefer to stay active rather than sit and sunbathe. The chessboard
like design along the seafront walkway paves the way to beautiful views and a
has peaceful and relaxing atmosphere about it.

Spend the
day walking along, checking out Livorno’s famous port and historic
fortifications whilst enjoying a delicious gelato, or come down for the evening
for some rustic Italian cooking in one of the many restaurants. You could even
do both and make a real day of it.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Image source: .infoflorence.com

Tuscany is a
beautiful region of Italy situated on the west coast. Some of the famous cities
that make up Tuscany include Florence, Pisa and Lucca and the region is home to
many famous historical monuments and buildings. Tuscany is a popular
destination amongst holiday makers from all around the world. We all know
Tuscany is a beautiful place perfect for a relaxing get away, but what don’t we
know about Tuscany?

The Italian Language Developed In Tuscany

The language of
Italian spoken in Italy today first formed into what we know it as today in
Tuscany. The Italian language originates from Latin, but it was in Florence
that it developed into the Italian language that is still spoken today. During
the 14th century famous poet, Dante Alighieri published his poetry
using a blend of southern Italian languages including Sicilian with his native
language of Florentine. His poetry was extremely popular and read all over the
country and his dialect soon became the standard language spoken by almost all
Italians.

Tuscany Is A Place That Set Trends

Cities in Tuscany
have been setting trends since as far back as the 12th century. In
1339 Florence was the first ever city in Europe to have paved streets, not far
after everywhere else followed in their footsteps. Tuscany is also very well
known for setting trends when it comes to fashion, with label Gucci emerging
from the region in 1921.

Famous Films Are Made In Tuscany

Many well known
films have had scenes filmed in Tuscany including two very iconic films;
‘Twilight New Moon’ and ‘Gladiator’. Another well known film set primarily in
Tuscany is ‘Under The Tuscan Sun’, in which an American divorce spontaneously
decides to buy a house in Tuscany when on a tour of the region. This film shows
just how beautiful Tuscan living can be, and I imagine provoked many others to
do just the same.

Tuscany Is Made Up Mostly Of Hills And Mountains

Great for those
after an adventurous break of hill walking and mountain climbing; two thirds of
Tuscany is made up from hills and one fourth is made up of mountains. This
makes for amazing scenery, beautiful views and many a mountain to climb. Choose
a Tuscan Villa up in the mountains for the ultimate Tuscan experience.

One Of The Most Historical Places In The World

It has been
recognised that Tuscany makes up 10% of the world heritage sites. These
include- The historical centre in Florence, the historical centre in Siena, the
Pisa square, the leaning tower of Pisa and much more.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

If you're going to be staying in villas in Tuscany, Italy, it's safe
to assume that you'll be flying to your vacation destination.Planning for travel and booking flights have
become much easier, but staying comfortable during a long flight can be a
problem.It can be difficult to stay
calm and comfortable when you're stuck in a seat next to a stranger, but it
isn't impossible.When you're preparing
to head out to catch your flight, remember to keep these things in mind.

Don't Sacrifice Comfort To Save Money

This is a mistake that many money conscious travelers make when they're booking
their flight.Right now sitting right
near the bathroom in a small seat to save money may seem bearable, but you'll
be regretting your decision when you're on your flight.If your airline is offering a seat or service
that could make your flight easier, take it.

Pick The Right Seat

All airline seats aren't created equal, some seats can have more legroom
or be more comfortable even in the same class and rate.If you want some leg room and space during
your flight, choose the aisle seat or a seat near the exit.Chairs by the window are an excellent option
if you're planning on passing the time by sleeping, or if you're taking a
red-eye flight.

Avoid Watching the Clock

Checking your phone to see if you're closer to your estimated arrival time
won't help the trip go any faster, nor will checking the map to see the
position of the aircraft.Staring at the
clock will just make the flight seem longer, and it could make you a little
crankier if you're already anxious to get off the plane.

Keep Busy

Is there a book that you've been dying to read that you haven't gotten a
chance to open?Are there some papers
you've been meaning to look over for work?If you want your flight to go by fast you're going to need a little bit
of a distraction to keep you busy.Read
a book, play a game, or catch up on some work.

Stay Hydrated

Pressurized cabins can suck a lot of moisture out of the air, and it
isn't uncommon for frequent flyers to complain about having dry skin, chapped
lips, and feeling dehydrated.Be sure to
drink water during your flight, and bring lotion and chapstick to keep your
skin from getting too dry.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Is there a person alive who doesn’t want to see Tuscany?It’s one of Italy’s most famous regions
because of the region’s unique contribution to culture and the arts, and the
scenery is beautiful and inspiring.If
you want to enjoy your vacation planning ahead is key.If you’re planning on spending time in a few luxury villas in Tuscany with your
friends, remember to keep these things in mind when you plan your getaway.

Avoid The Summer Season

Most of you reading this are probably thinking of planning your Tuscan
getaway for the summer months, but if you really want to enjoy your vacation
you’ll plan to travel during the spring or fall.Summer is the peak vacation season, and if
you book during June, July, or August you’ll be paying peak prices.Aside from the cost, if you travel to Tuscany
in summer you’re going to be vacationing at the same time as thousands of other
people.If you travel to Tuscany in the
summer there will be crowds of people at all of the best museums, restaurants,
and attractions, but if you travel during the off season you’ll be able to avoid
the crowds.

Rent A Vehicle

Much of Tuscany’s charm isn’t in its museums or large restaurants; it’s
in the small towns that dot the Tuscan country side.When you’re on vacation rent a bike or a car
so that you can really see what Tuscany is all about.Check out the smaller towns like Siena and
San Gimignano.These towns have been around for centuries
and are full of breath taking architecture.

Learn Some
Italian

A lot of
tourists make the mistake of neglecting to learn Italian because they know that
they’ll have a translator by their side the entire time.The translator can get you where you need to
go, but they won’t be able to give you the satisfaction or thrill of briefly
connecting with someone by briefly conversing in Italian.No resident of the region is going to expect
you to speak perfect Italian, but simply saying “thank you” in Italian can do a
lot.Download Vocre to help you converse and translate
when you’re on your vacation.The app
was designed to help people understand one another during a bi-lingual
conversation, and it’ll be perfect for your vacation.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Whether you're traveling to villas in Tuscany or a hotel room in
Paris, safety is the top priority for any traveler that's going abroad.Being safe while traveling abroad doesn't
have to be difficult, if you use your common sense and trust your instincts you
can have a great vacation.If you're
going to be traveling abroad for your vacation, remember to follow these five
tips.

Separate Your Money Sources

When you're at home you keep all of your bank cards, credit
cards, and cash in your wallet, but you should avoid doing that when you're
traveling abroad.If your wallet gets
lost or stolen when you're away, you could find yourself stranded without any
money.Keep at least one credit card or
bank card in a different place, preferably back at wherever you're staying.

Make Copies of Important Documents

Some people used to make photocopies of their important
documents like their passport or birth certificate.It's still good to have copies of important
documents, but instead of printing them on paper scan them and save them on
your computer.Email them to yourself so
you'll always have a copy when you need it.

Be Wary With New "Friends"

There's nothing wrong with making friends when you're on
vacation, but you should think twice about going to new and strange places with
people you've just met.People who are
traveling abroad should be wary of local scam artists who work by befriending
tourists so that they can rob them later.The Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree has a
variety of threads devoted to warning fellow travelers about the scams they
could encounter.Before you travel, see
what local scams could be occurring where you're traveling.

Check Certifications

Before you take that scuba diving course or bungee jump,
make sure that you make sure that the operators have legitimate qualifications
and have a good safety record.Some
tourists get lured into some of these specialty services because of their low
price, but the low price tag may be because the people running it aren't
qualified to do so.

Leave Expensive Items at Home

You may have always dreamed of wearing your $1200 diamond
bracelet on your vacation, but if you want to stay safe you should leave all of
your expensive personal possessions at home.Aside from the fact that you could lose them, wearing expensive jewelry
or taking pictures with a costly camera makes you look like an attractive
target for thieves.

Monday, July 1, 2013

When people think of family friendly vacation spots they
think of places with amusement parks and other typical kid friendly
attractions.Tuscany isn't just a great
vacation destination for appreciating Tuscan art and culture, it's also a great
place for families to stay.When you
look at Tuscany
villas for rent, look for ones that are large enough to accommodate your
entire family because there are a lot of things for kids and their parents to
see in this region of Italy.

If you have a child that loves dinosaurs and animals, a trip to the Prehistoric
Park in Peccioli is a must.The Prehistoric
Park in Peccioli was founded after the park founders discovered some fossils on
their land.After discovering the
fossils, the park founders decided to turn the area into an educational
prehistoric wonder land.The park has
over 18 naturalistic models of dinosaurs along with models of cavemen and a
volcano.There's even a nice area for
families to relax and eat after spending the day touring the park.Your kids will love seeing the life-like
models of the dinosaurs, and they'll be able to do something educational and
fun on their vacation.

Pienza is famous for two things: their award winning
Pecorino cheeses and its beautiful scenery.Pienza is surrounded by vast meadows and farms, and when you're
exploring the area you'll get a taste of what true country living is like in
Tuscany.When you're in Pienza take you
kids to see one of the regions famous cheese factories.Your kids will be able to see how one of the
favorite foods is made, and they'll be able to learn a lot about local
agriculture.

Some people think that every zoo is the same, but that isn't
the case in the Poppi Zoological Park.Poppi doesn't spend their budget getting animals from exotic locales in
their zoo; they focus on the plants and animals that are native to the region.In today's modern world it can be easy to
forget just how diverse regions are.When your kids see the foxes, lynxes, birds of prey, and other animals
that are native to Europe here, they'll start to develop a unique appreciation
for nature.